From The Field: Jim Webb's Boots on The Ground

ARLINGTON, VA -- Jim Webb's Senate announcement tour lived up to its slogan ('Born Fighting') at today's stop in Arlington:

Double-barrel assault on the Bush Administration? Check. Air of rugged machismo? Check. Combat boots? Out in force.

Surrounded by his family (minus one son, a lance corporal in the Marines preparing to deploy to Iraq), Webb stood before a crowd of 300 to 'state the principles on which we are going to run this campaign.' These turned out to be the same principles that marked his military career -- a running theme in his announcement speech, which centered on the Iraq war.

Webb opened with a declaration: "My objection to this war is not aimed at the army, but at the administration that has chosen to wage it." In martial language, he lashed out at the Bushies as "people who offer no creed," and "sent us into a war wholly unrelated to our national interest." Into this critique he folded domestic spying, the "politics of fear and social division," and even gas prices, noting that in 2002 oil was $24 a barrel versus $75 a barrel today --"a direct result of the instability we brought to the region." Webb endorsed a windfall profit tax on oil companies for good measure.

Webb hopes to steal the issue of national security from the Republican Party. Just one day into his campaign, he's already stolen the boots-and-suits look popularized by Paul Bremer, which, if today's crowd was any indication, has quickly emerging as a politico-fashion statement among Virginia Democrats. In a rare mention of the incumbent, Webb wondered aloud why George Allen wears cowboy boots "when there aren't any cowboys in Virginia?" Then he repeated his vow to don combats boots on the campaign trail (lifting a leg for emphasis) and encouraged his crowd to do the same.

"Put on some boots, folks," he urged. "Work boots, hiking boots --anything except cowboy boots." [JOSHUA GREEN]

Posted at 04:58 PM

Comments

Re "no cowboys in Virginia".

I was on a business trip last year in April or May and stopped for gas in the Roanoke area. The station had old gas pumps so I had to go inside to pay for the gas. And on the wall next to the cash register wall, I spotted a poster announcing the local "high school rodeo championships". So I suspect Webb better get out there to troll for votes and consider changing his boots to cowboy style.

AJ Lynch | 04.28.06 08:38 AM

Someone ought to tell Mr. Webb that as of yet there is no combat in Virginia either.

Anon | 04.28.06 09:40 AM

listik-28081 | 01.31.08 06:37 AM

lostyand | 02.16.08 02:00 AM

lostyand | 02.16.08 02:02 AM

lostyand | 02.16.08 02:04 AM

listik-28081 | 02.26.08 08:15 PM

listik-28081 | 02.26.08 08:16 PM

listik-28081 | 02.29.08 01:56 PM

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April 26, 2006

From The Field: Jim Webb's Boots on The Ground

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